The Chief Minister of Telangana K Chandrashekhar Rao, who has called for a need of establishing a non-BJP and non-Congress alternative, is all set to meet his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata on March 19.

Both the leaders are expected to discuss the possibility of forming a non-BJP and non-Congress, third front.

On March 3, the Telangana chief minister had floating the idea of a third front adding that he was already in talks with other “like-minded” parties to bring about “qualitative changes” in governance.

“In the last 70 years, the political system, whether ruled by Congress or BJP, has failed miserably to bring a qualitative change in the lives of the people. We are talking of tackling corruption and ensuring social justice. Every day, there are reports of Dalits being killed. The BJP is in power in some of the states where they (Dalits) are getting killed,’’ Rao had said, according to media reports.

The chief minister would meet Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata at around 4 pm.

“In the backdrop of Telangana Chief Minister calling for a qualitative change in politics, he will meet and hold discussions with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on March 19,” sources in the Telangana Chief Minister’s office (CMO) told PTI.

On March 4, Mamata Banerjee spoke to Rao over phone and conveyed her complete support on his statement that he was keen to participate in national politics to bring about “qualitative changes” in governance.

Alleging that successive governments ruled by both the Congress and BJP at the Centre have miserably failed to ensure development of the country, Rao had earlier said he will talk with all like-minded parties and leaders for creating an agenda for the country’s growth.